PATENTS

2806 . ----- [ROELEN, O.]  [Sulfonates From Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Olefins.]  German Patent Appl. -, filed Dec. 10, 1940; APC 369,507.

To prepare sulfonates free from impurities, alcohols prepared from synthetic olefins, for example, undecene, are used.  Catalysts for making the alcohols are finely divided metals (Fe, Ni, Co) mixed with an oxide of Th, Mg, or Al.  The high-pressure conversion takes place at 50°-200° C.  Only primary alcohols are formed, and about 50% have ramified chains, since the olefins are prepared from CO and H₂, and are hydroxylated (while adding 1 C atom) with CO and H₂.  A complete series can be made, for example, 10 C-20 C. starting with the olefin from 9 C-19 C.